The new 1 rial note is red, similar to the 5 rial note.
Its currency, the rial, fell from 7 to the dollar before the revolution, to 1749 to the dollar in 1989.
In 1993, the 1 and 5 rials notes were replaced by coins, with the same happening to the 10 rials notes in 1995.
The 20 rials notes were replaced by coins in 2004.
A by-law has been passed allowing the energy ministry to conclude rial or combined rial/foreign-currency contracts for the purchase of electricity from private companies.
Usually, when dealing with goods with a value lower than a dirham, it is common to use the rial or santim.
Subsequently, inflation increased, the value of the national currency (the rial) depreciated, and a foreign-trade deficit developed.
In 2004, the sizes of the 50, 100 and 250 rial coins were reduced and 500 rial coins were introduced.
